Stringed musical instrument



Aug. 16, 19 372. DQPYERA 1,87Z,633

` STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I Filed June 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet lI'NVENTOR.

R. DOPYERH.

& 193Z- R. DOPYERA STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 FiledJune 29, 1929 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 16, 1932 'PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPEDOPYERA, or Los ANGELES, cALIFoRNIA e sTnINGEDfM srcAL INSrRU ENT Alication med June '29,

stringed musical instrumente.

The general object of 'this invention is to provide an improvedresonator for' stringed instrumente. i

Anotherobject of my invention is to pro- Vide a musical instrumenthaving a resonator theren, and wherein the musical sounds produced 'areof sweet tone and amplified power.

A more specific object of the inventionis to provide an improved metalresonator 'for musical instrunents of the class described' A further object of my invention' is to provide a musical instrument having aresonator therein and wherein the resonator includes a resonant bodysupported so that the body is hanging when in position. i

Other objects andthe advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein e i Fig. l is a top plan'view of a guitar embod ing thefeatures of my invention.

' ig. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. v Fig. 3is an enlarged end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longtudinal section taken on line ofFig. 1, and y i k Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of thedevice withvarious parts broken away to more clearly illustrate theinvention.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have indicated aguitar embodying the features of my invention generally at 10. AlthoughI have shown and described my invention in connection with a 'guitar itmay be embodiedin any stringed musical instrument such as banjos,violins, etc., 'Without departing from the spirit of the inven tion orthe scope of the appended claims' y As shown the guitar includes a bodyportion 12 having a conventional neck v 14 and tail piece 15 thereonwith strings 16 strung from the tail pieceto keys 17. i

The body portion 12 comprises spaced side Walls 18 having a top 19provided with an aperture 20 and a bottom 21 secured thereto in anydesired manner. Secured tojthe top 19 and the bottom 20 adjacenttheaperture This invention relates to improvements in 1929. I serial N374572.

20 there isprovided a wall 22 which is spaced from the side walls lS andfollows the contour of'the aperture 21 to form a well 23. This wall 22is provided with a plurality of apertures 24. The top surface of thewall 22 projects inwardly beyond the edge which' defines the aperture 20and forms ashelf as 'indicated at 25-upon=which is positioned an anglemember 26 which is shown as secured to 'the wall 22 'by a plurality ofscrews 27.

'Suspended from the angle member 26 there is provided a metallicresonator daphragm indicated generallyat 30 and which is preferably madeof' duralum'in or other suitable material. The resonator 30 includes aconcavewall 31 which merges into a conical upwardly projecting wall 32which is 'provided with a plurality of apertures 33. The outer edge ofthe diaphragm 30 is preferably providedfwith a downwardly turned flange34 which is adapted to snugly engage the outer face of the angle member26 while between theouter edge of the diaphragm and the wall 31thereis'provided 'a ridge 35.

Positioned on the diaphragm ridge 35 there is provided a spider webbridgeindicated generally at 36 andwhich includes a central portion 37havinga plurality ofradial arms 38 radiating therefrom. These arms forma spider and they are preferably connected together by a plurality ofwebs 39 although I mayuse but one web if'desired. This bridge ispreferably made of duralumin or other suitable material and includes araised cene ter bar 40 which is provided with a groove 41 in which ispositioned two pieces of Wood 42 for the instrument strings 16 to restupon. The bridge 36` is so positioned on the diaphragm ridge 35 thatonly. the ends of the arms 38 engage the rdge 35 so that' all otherparts of the bridge are free from engagenent With the daphragm and otherparts of the instrument 10. e

The bridge is Secured to the diaphragm 30 by a screw 43 which passesthrough the bridge and engages the threads of a 'threaded' boss 44`secured to the: diaphragm' at the apex of theconical portion 32. Theweight of the spider 30 is preferably lessened by providing grooves 45in the under side of the arms 38 and by grooves 46 in the Webs 39.

Over the aperture 20 I provide a cover 48 which is preferably made ofduralumin and is shown as secured to the top 19 by a plurality of screws49. This cover is curved upwardly and is spaced from the bridge and doesnot ,contact with any part of the diaphra gm 30 or the spider 36. Anaperture 49' is provided in the cover 48 to allow access to the screw 43after the cover is Secured to the body.

Apertures 50 and 51 are provided in the cover for the passagetherethrough of the strings 16 and extending from these apertures to therim of the cover depressed portions 5:2 and 53 are provided. The coveris also provided with a plurality of other apertures 54.

After all the parts have been assembled and the strings 16 have beencorrectly strung from the tail piece to the keys the tone of theinstrument is' adjusted by tightening or loosening the screw 43.

hen the device is played by moving the strings 16 the vibrations of thestrings pass therefrom to the wood pieces 42 thence through the legs 38of the spider web bridge to the diaphragm ridge 35, thereby vbrating thediaphragm and causing a tone to be emitted therefrom. This tone thentravels upwardly and out the apertures 54 in the cover and downwardlyinto the well from whence it passes out through the apertures 24 in thewall 22 into the body 12 and thence out through an aperture 55 providedin the top 19. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that Ihave provided a novel resonator for stringed instruments which is simplein Construction and highly efiicient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1` In a stringed musical instrument, a hollow body including top, bottomand sides and having an opening in the top thereof, a wall spaced fromthe sides of said body and extending from the top to the bottom thereofadjacent to and below said aperture to form a well therein, said wallbeing apertured and a diaphragm resonator supported in said well.

2. In a diaphragm resonator including a downwardly curved body having amarginal rim, a ridge adjacent to said rim, a bridge spider having armsengaging said ridge and having webs connecting said arms, said diaphragmresonator having a central upwardly extending portion having its apexspaced from said bridge spider tension means connecting the center ofsaid spider and said central upwardly extending portion of saidchaphragm resonator and means for adjustmg said tensioning means.

3. In a stringed musical instrument having a top provided with anopening, a diaphragm resonator positioned in said opening, a bridgeincluding radial arms engaging said resonator, said arms being of Ushape, said i bridge including a central raised bar having a groovetherein, wooden inserts in said grooves to support the playing strings,adjustable tension means to hold said bridge and diaphragm resonatorassembled, and a cover arranged on said top over said opening, saidcover having a depressed portion at each end ther-cof and having centralapertures through which the strings extend.

4. In a stringed musical instrument, a hollow body including top, bottomand sides and having an opening in the top thereof, a wall arranged insaid body below said opening to form a well therein, said wall having ashoulder thereon, an angle member secured to said shoulder and extendingaround the periphery of said wall, a diaphragm resonator including abody having a flange snugly engaging the outer face of said anglemember,

said diaphragm resonator body including a J central conical part and adownwardly dished outer portion joined to said flan ed portion by agrooved rim to provide a rige at the juncture of said rim and saiddownwardly dished portion and a spider web bridge including radial armsand circumferential webs engaging said arms, said arms and said websbeing of U shape with the outer ends of said arms engaging and supportedon said ridge, said bridge including a central raised bar having agroove therein, wooden inserts in said grooves to support the playingstrings and an adjnstable tension connectng said bridge and diaphragmresonator.

5. In a stringed musical instrument, a hollow body including top, bottomand sides and having an opening in the top thereof, an angle memberSecured adjacent to said opening, a diaphragm resonator including a bodyhaving a flange snugly engaging the outer face of said angle member,said diaphragm resonator body including a central conical part and adownwardly dished outer portion joined to said fianged portion by agrooved rim to provide aridge at the juncture of said rim and saiddownwardly dished portion and a spider web bridge including radial armsand means to adjustably hold said bridge and diaphragn resonatorassembled.

6. In a stringed musical instrument, a hollow body including top, bottomand sides and having an opening in the top thereof, a diaphragmresonator including a body having a flange snugly held adjacent to saidopening, said diaphragm resonator body including a central conical partand a downwardly dished outer portion joined to said flanged portion bya grooved rim to provide a ridge at the juncture of said rim and saiddownwardly dished` portion and a spider web bridge including radial armsand circumfer- :of said wall, a diaphragm resonator including a bodyhavin a fiange snugly engaging the outer face 0% said angle member, saiddiaphragm resonator body including a central conical part and adownwardly dished outer portion joined to said flanged portion by agrooved rim to provide a ridge at the juncture of said rim and saiddownwardly dished portion and a spider web bridge including radial armsand circumferential webs engaging said arms, said arms and said websbeing of U shape with the outer ends of said arms engaging and supportedon said ridge, said bridge including a central raised bar having asupport for playing strings, a threaded member extending through saidcentral bar, a second threaded member on said conical portion of saiddiaphragm resonator and engag ing said first member to adjustably holdsaid bridge and resonator assembled.

8. In stringed musical instrument, a thin hollow body including top,bottom and sides having an opening in the top thereof, an apertured wallarranged in said body below said opening to form a well therein, anangle member Secured adjacent to said opening and extending around theperiphery of said wall, a diaphragm resonator including a body having aflange engaging said angle member, said diaphragm resonator bodyincluding a central conical part and a downwardly'dished outer portionjoined tosaid flanged 'portion by a grooved rim to provide a ridge atthejuncture of said rim and said downwardly dished portion and a spider webbridge including a centralportion spaced from said conical part, radialarms and circumferential webs engagingsaid arms, said arms and said websbeing of U shape with the outer ends of said arms engaging and supportedon said ridge,said bri dge including a grooved bar, wooden inserts insaid grooves to support playing strings, a tensioning device including'athreaded member extending through said grooved bar and a secondthreaded'member on said conical portion of said diaphragm resonator andengaging said first threaded member to adjustably hold said bridge anddiaphragm resonator assembled.

9. In a stringed musical instrument, a holstrings extend.

low body including top, bottom and sides and having an opening in thetop thereof, a wall arranged in said body below said opening to e form awell therein, said Wall having a shoulder thereon, an angle memberSecured on said shoulder and'extending around the periphery of saidWall, a diaphragm resonator including a body having a flange snuglyengagng the outer face of said angle member, said diaphragmresonatorbody including a central conical part and a downwardly dished outerportion joined to said fianged portion by a grooved rim to' provide aridge at the juncture of said rim and said downwardly dished portion anda spider web bridge including a central portion spaced from said conicalpart, and having radial arms and circumferential webs engaging saidarms, said' arms and said webs being of U shape with the outer ends ofsaid arms engaging and supported onsaid ridge, said bridge includ- 10.In a stringed musical instrument, a

diaphragm resonator, a bridge supported by said resonator, and means foradjustably con-' necting the central portions of said bridge and saiddiaphragm resonator, said means comprising a screw passing through oneof said parts and engagng threads on the other of said parts.

11. In a stringed musical instrument, a resonator, a bridge includingradial arms resting on said diaphragm resonator, said brdge including agrooved bar, inserts in the groove of the bar 'for supporting thestrings, and means for adjusting the tensioning of said diaphragmresonator, said means comprising an adjustable connection between saidbridge and. said diaphragm resonator. i

12. A diaphragm resonator, including'a downwardly curving body portionhaving a ridge adjacent to the edge thereof, a bridge spider havingvarmsloosely resting on said ridge, said diaphragm resonator havinganupwardly extending portion, and adjustable means connecting said bridgespider and the upwardly ext-ending portion of said diaphragm resonator.

13. For use with a diaphragm resonator, a bridge spider including radialarms, said arms being of inverted U-shapedlin cross section, said bridgespider having a central portion provided with a groove therein, and

,wooden inserts in said groove to support the strings.

Ll. A diaphragm resonator including u eurved body, an independent bridgespider having arms engngin the peripheral portion of said body,eonneeting the eenter of said bri and said body, said eonnecting me radjustable to reguinte the tension of u; di hragm resonator.

15. In e. strii d musical instrument, a diaphragm resonator, a bridgepositioned on, seid resona'or, said bridge positioned on said res nor,means eonnecting said bridge r, and means for adjustingthe le i `'deonneetngmeans to regulnte the te; urid resonator.

16. A musical i. nent eomprising in eon'bnation member, strings held inand a resonator monnted on member provided interneliv Oi s peripherywith an annular da and ;in annular ra' ed por portion the pen'` a llannulur depressed portion eomp s sensitive receivduced as described.

17. i musical instrument eomprising in eombination with u supportingmember and strings held in tension thereon, of n circnlzr resonntor heldat its periphery on said supporting member, en ennular eoneave portioninternully of the periphery and an unnulzr eonvei portion internally ofsaid eoneave portion, and a bridge having a plurality of Contacts 'withseid convex portion and engaging said strings, sad eonvex portion beingformed substnntinlly remote from the center of the resonetor.

18. A musical instrument eomprising in eombination With body and stringsheld in tension there-on, o?, u eireular metallic resonator supported e*its periphery on said body, a bridge ncludi a trnsverse member forengngement With id strings, and provided With arms etended therefrom forcontact with said resonetor at points remote from the center thereof.

19. .i. stringed musical instrument comprising e. hollow body includingspeeed top and body members, :n ennular supporting member uttaehed 'tothe top of the body and oommunicnting with the bottom thereof, ametallic rez nator h-eid on said supporting member ;na its periphery an(provided With un upn'erdly extended nnnuiur bend formed snbstantie yremo e from the center thereof, strings held i on said body, and abridge hevi l`1l portion radally extend ivth said bend.

20. In a musical instrument, a hollon body g the said strings and ionstor engngement including a top, bottom and sides and having an openingin the top thereof, a circumferential upwardly faeing shoulder disposeda djaeent to said opening, a resonator including a body having itsperiphery engaging the said shoulder, said resonator body including adownwardly dished enter-portion within the periphery and a spider Webbridge including radial arms engaging said resonator Without saiddownwardly dished portion and means to hold said bridge and resonatorassembled.

21. In a musical instrument, a. hollow body having an opening in the topthereof, a resonator having its periphery positioned on said bodysurrounding said opening, said resonator having an upwardly 'cingcircumferential head internally of its periphery, a bridge spider havingportions engaging said bend and downwardly dished portion between saidperiphery and said bend comprising the portion of maximum flexiblity ofsaid resonator.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

RUDOLPH DOPYERA.

